SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, says improving the rail network must go hand in hand with boosting overall economic performance.
Mr Rowlands, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure was speaking in the Senedd following a statement from Ken Skates, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales: a vision for rail across Wales and the borders.
Mr Skates said the ‘Today, Tomorrow, Together’ vision is a rail industry-led £14 billion package of bold, impactful schemes that will see improvements right across the Wales and borders rail network.
Mr Rowlands said: “It is important that we have a vision for rail in Wales that recognises the role of a modern, reliable network in connecting communities, supporting local economies and boosting jobs and investment.
“While the ‘Today, Tomorrow, Together’ document sets out ambitious intentions, much of the £14 billion package reflects commitments and aspirations that have been previously signalled, building on existing investments such as the core Valleys lines, network North Wales and new rolling stock for TfW.
“The Cabinet Secretary will be aware that I strongly support the principle of open access. In that context, routes such as Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway and Liverpool & South Wales Railway have clear potential to bring additional connectivity to parts of Wales that have long been underserved.
“These can unlock new travel opportunities, complement core services, and offering passengers more options. That’s why I was pleased to be able to write to the Office of Rail and Road to express my support for these routes and to outline the benefits they could deliver.
“Our manifesto commits to working with the UK Government to secure meaningful improvements to Wales’s transport networks, including that electrification of the North Wales main line, new-station investment, and better links to economic hubs, such as in Manchester and Liverpool, where they are vital for economic growth.
“We believe improving rail must go hand in hand with boosting overall economic performance. We know that an efficient rail network can support local business, support those tourism businesses and commuting, reduce congestion on roads and help communities to thrive.
“But these benefits will only materialise if plans are implemented effectively, fairly and with passengers’ needs at their heart, rather than becoming a bureaucratic exercise.
“I’d be interested to hear from the Cabinet Secretary how he would want to avoid bureaucracy getting in the way of the delivery of this ‘Today, Tomorrow, Together’ plan.”
The Cabinet Secretary said he agreed with Sam and they needed to ensure that bureaucracy and unnecessary administration does not get in the way of delivery.
